“Sin City” takes a handful of stereotypes, mixes them with [3] thin plots, seasons them with a generous dollop of boobage and tops it all off with a bit of the old ultra-violence. There is no problem that cannot be solved with fists, a gun, a sword or a hacksaw. Thugs drop with a single blow, but Our Heroes take a dozen slugs and can still throw off a snappy line and blow your head off before they drop. This is noir taken to the extreme.

Fans of old-school noir might bemoan the loss of complex characters and the shades of gray that were a staple of the old films. The look is pure comic book noir, but the tone is more Cowboy Western. There are white hats and black hats. There is absolutely NOTHING in between. Of course, the white hats are not nice guys, but they are the honorable ones. And THAT is all that counts in Sin City.

Black and white, with splashes of vivid color. It is absolutely gorgeous. Against the monochrome background, you see a hooker’s blue eyes or a woman’s blood-red dress. It emphasizes the comic book nature of the film. It also lessens the impact of the ubiquitous brutality. Blood is white or yellow. Very seldom is it red. So, we see a man’s hand lopped off and a white spray gushes out. It kind of dislocates you from the relentless brutality hurled at you.

The film is a nearly frame-by-frame adaptation of the comics [or graphic novels, if you are sensitive about that term]. I have never seen a comic book movie that follows the source material like this. Every scene is lifted from the comic and is usually shot from the same perspective.

I thought it was wonderful.

“Sin City” ain’t fo’ eve’body, though.

There are plenty of reasons to avoid “Sin City.”
If you cannot abide brutal violence, including the removal of a man’s naughty bits, in graphic detail.
If you want depth and humanity in your characters.
If you want realism in your fights.
If over-the-top tough, hard-bitten dialogue annoys you.
If you stubbornly insist that the law of gravity and hydrostatic shock are real.
If you dislike scantilly-clad women with big guns [I am talking about pistols now].

But if you enjoy a stylish [and violent] updating of the noir genre, “Sin City” is just the thing. Go see it on the Big Screen. The visuals and sound are worth it.

5 out of 5 Hoots on the Gaz Hoot Scale. Loads and loads of mindless fun.

No children, please.

xoxo~
Gaz
Would not last a minute in that city.

Gaz

04-08-2005, 07:11 AM

BTW, a trailer for “Revenge of the Sith” played here in DooDah.

xoxo~
Gaz
Still waiting for his $8 rebate for "The Phantom Menace."

jarjar

04-08-2005, 07:15 AM

I agree. Although it really approached the upper edge of what I can tolerate in brutality, the style of the film helped to deaden that a bit. I enjoyed the movie a lot.

AustinChief

04-08-2005, 08:42 AM

Just an FYI.. the female Irish mercenary in the movie is a friend here in Austin. She is not an actress at all but a bartender at Fado (a local Irish Pub that my ex-g/f used to work at) She is also one of the nicest people you will ever meet.. so it was a little strange seeing her as a tough killer.

Dr. Facebook Fever

04-08-2005, 08:51 AM

This thread is worthless without pictures of a writhing Jessica Alba.

cookster50

04-08-2005, 09:36 AM

This thread is worthless without pictures of a writhing Jessica Alba.

Amen brother!!!

Wrasse

04-08-2005, 09:42 AM

Great review (as always), Gaz.

I totally agree...absolutely loved the film.

So much talent here at the Chiefs Planet...so much potential to really open this site up, add some news sections, and make it so much more. :)

** can't wait to see Gaz's reviews listed at Movies.com and people being redirected here to view them **

:)

Otter

04-08-2005, 10:12 AM

Haven't seen the movie but must ask, what do you consider "old school noir"?

Just curiosity getting the better of me. :D

Baby Lee

04-08-2005, 10:15 AM

Great review (as always), Gaz.

I totally agree...absolutely loved the film.

So much talent here at the Chiefs Planet...so much potential to really open this site up, add some news sections, and make it so much more. :)

** can't wait to see Gaz's reviews listed at Movies.com and people being redirected here to view them **

:)
Ebert and Gazaway give it 5 hoots.

the Talking Can

04-08-2005, 10:17 AM

Must see on the big screen. I think it will lose a lot of its wow factor on a tv.

ck_IN

04-08-2005, 10:20 AM

In a way I'm dissapointed. I haven't read Sin City but I was hoping for some variation of the old Sam Spade/Phillip Marlow genre. Doesn't sound like I'm going to get it.

Oh well, I guess I'll wait for it to come to tape, put my mind on pause and give it a watch.

As an aside it was Bogart night on TMC last night. Damm that was good TV.

Mr. Laz

04-08-2005, 11:10 AM

i would like to read the Gaz review but i have been temporarily blinded by the huge f-ed up font of the post

MY GAWD MAN, CAN'T YOU POST WITHOUT SCREAMING!!!!!!!

Gaz

04-08-2005, 11:13 AM

Otter-

When I think of noir I think of “Double Indemnity” or “The Third Man” or “The Maltese Falcon.” Double-dealing, dark and grimy streets, moral ambiguity, lots of shadows. It is generally told from a POV outside the law-enforcement community. The protagonist might not be a full-blown criminal, but he/she is not a cop. He/she becomes entangled in a situation that the police cannot solve. Often he/she is actively opposed, if not pursued by the authorities.

A fine modern example of noir [including some masterful cinematography] is “The Man Who Wasn’t There” by the Brothers Coen.

xoxo~
Gaz
Enjoys the really dark ones once in a while.

Gaz

04-08-2005, 11:15 AM

Laz-

On my screen the font appears the same size as all the others.

xoxo~
Gaz
Soft-spoken.

whoman69

04-08-2005, 11:25 AM

Laz-

On my screen the font appears the same size as all the others.

xoxo~
Gaz
Soft-spoken.

All us old guys on the board cheer for posts we don't have to move closer to the screen to see.

Sidenote: the red cadillac that Dwight drives in Sin Citywas used in Viva Las Vegas. The funniest line I've heard lately was 'why didn't they use any make-up on Mickey Rourke??'

Otter

04-08-2005, 11:31 AM

Otter-

When I think of noir I think of “Double Indemnity” or “The Third Man” or “The Maltese Falcon.” Double-dealing, dark and grimy streets, moral ambiguity, lots of shadows. It is generally told from a POV outside the law-enforcement community. The protagonist might not be a full-blown criminal, but he/she is not a cop. He/she becomes entangled in a situation that the police cannot solve. Often he/she is actively opposed, if not pursued by the authorities.

A fine modern example of noir [including some masterful cinematography] is “The Man Who Wasn’t There” by the Brothers Coen.

xoxo~
Gaz
Enjoys the really dark ones once in a while.

Thanks, noir is such a relative term these days (as I suppose it pretty much always has been), I just wanted to see if I would find a Se7ev or The Bad Lieutenant in your list somewhere.

Checking out The Man Who Wasn’t There for consideration into joining my Netflix Queue shortly.

Gaz

04-08-2005, 11:35 AM

I loved “Seven” . While it was dark, dark, dark, I would not categorize it as [i]noir. If you liked “Seven,” you need to check out “8mm.” It is by the same writer. It is even darker than “Seven.” It hurt my tender little heart to watch that one.

I made it through “Bad Lieutenant,” but only barely. That was a painfully brutal, mean-spirited film. Unpleasant all the way through, with no real payoff, IMO.

xoxo~
Gaz
Scores lots of good old movies with TiVo & TCM.

AirForceChief

04-08-2005, 11:37 AM

In a way I'm dissapointed. I haven't read Sin City but I was hoping for some variation of the old Sam Spade/Phillip Marlow genre. Doesn't sound like I'm going to get it.

Oh well, I guess I'll wait for it to come to tape, put my mind on pause and give it a watch.

As an aside it was Bogart night on TMC last night. Damm that was good TV.

What was the flick w/ Bogart and Bachall (sp?) set in the tropics, hurricane on the way, gangsters (Edward G. Robinson, no less) taking over the local hotel (sanctuary from the storm for the islanders)? That was on TMC and I actually caught about 40 mins of it here in Qatar. Didn't finish it, but loved what I saw...

Help?

BigOlChiefsfan

04-08-2005, 11:39 AM

Key Largo

BIG_DADDY

04-08-2005, 11:41 AM

I could see Gaz running one of those escort services in Vegas.

Mr. Laz

04-08-2005, 11:47 AM

Laz-

On my screen the font appears the same size as all the others.

xoxo~
Gaz
Soft-spoken.

that explains it

here's a sample of what it looks like to me ... you might have "ignore font size" checked in your browser.

Gaz

04-08-2005, 12:05 PM

Laz-

Your problem is that you are not seeing the Garamond font [which is what I use]. Garamond is a tiny font and the size increase is necessary to make it legible. Garamond is a very common font and it surprises me that it is not on your computer.

Does anyone else have the same problem as Laz?

xoxo~
Gaz
Problem child.

Otter

04-08-2005, 12:09 PM

I loved “Seven” . While it was dark, dark, dark, I would not categorize it as [i]noir. If you liked “Seven,” you need to check out “8mm.” It is by the same writer. It is even darker than “Seven.” It hurt my tender little heart to watch that one.

I made it through “Bad Lieutenant,” but only barely. That was a painfully brutal, mean-spirited film. Unpleasant all the way through, with no real payoff, IMO.

xoxo~
Gaz
Scores lots of good old movies with TiVo & TCM.

I appreciate the fact that neither of those two films were on the list. When story is told from the perspective of ordinary people who get caught up in the 'darkness' you listed below fits the definition I've become more comfortable.

You couldn't have answered anymore textbook.

Also, I agree with the brief synopsis as well; The Bad Lieutenant was malicious for the sake of being malicious and Se7ven boarders on brilliant.

But I don't like that damn avatar!!! :cuss:

Actually I do, I think it's funny.

ck_IN

04-08-2005, 01:19 PM

<i>What was the flick w/ Bogart and Bachall (sp?) set in the tropics, hurricane on the way, gangsters (Edward G. Robinson, no less) taking over the local hotel (sanctuary from the storm for the islanders)? That was on TMC and I actually caught about 40 mins of it here in Qatar. Didn't finish it, but loved what I saw...</i>

Yes that was Key Largo. A very good Bogey/Bacall movie. I still think their best was 'To have and have not' (which was on last night!)

Bogey is his best when his character is a jaded, world weary, borderline criminal. Captain Walker in To Have.... fits that well.

IMHO the best example of classic Noir is 'The Maltese Falcon'. Bogey loves the girl but needs to avenge his partner. He didn't really like his partner but 'it's just something you have to do'. Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, et all. want the Falcon and Bogey doesn't really care but he needs to tie it together so the cops won't try and pin the murder on him. Through it all there's the undercurrent of Bogey potentially joining the band of thieves and dropping his problems behind him. Classic, classic movie.

kufan2

04-08-2005, 03:02 PM

after reading the GAZ review of Sin City, Iwent to see it today. thanks Gaz i loved it. it so reminds me of those 1930s detective films. The Maltese Falcon; The Big Sleep. and the dialouge was Straight out of a Mickey Spillane novel. Thanks again.

BigOlChiefsfan

04-09-2005, 11:50 AM

A few good lines of dialogue from another favorite old noir starring Robert Mitchum, Out Of The Past